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Norway lobsters (Nephrops norvegicus)

Norway lobsters (Nephrops norvegicus), live, fresh, chilled or frozen

FSSAI CLEARANCE · AQCS CLEARANCE

HSN 0306 15 00 (Norway lobsters, Nephrops norvegicus) is subject to Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) Import Licence and mandatory foreign-manufacturer registration under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. Animal Quarantine and Certification Services (AQCS) Sanitary Import Permit clearance applies concurrently, and consignments are restricted to 79 designated food-import ports effective 1 March 2023.

What this is
HSN code
0306 15 00
Chapter
03 · Fish and crustaceans, molluscs and other aquatic invertebrates
Primary regulator
FSSAI · Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 (high-risk food regime)
Customs documentation
  • Import Licence from FSSAI
  • Sanitary Import Permit from AQCS
  • Health Certificate from AQCS
Applicable Partner Government Agencies
FSSAIFSSAI·Food Safety and Standards Authority of India
AQCSAQCS·Animal Quarantine and Certification Services

Procedural directions for customs clearance are issued by: Directorate General of Foreign Trade, Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs.

Compliance steps
  1. 1
    Confirm the foreign manufacturing facility is registered with the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India under the mandatory high-risk-food regime before shipment. Imports of crustaceans and fish products from unregistered facilities are not permitted; the FSSAI Import Licence must be uploaded in e-Sanchit at the bill of entry.
    CBIC Instruction 30/2022-Cus dated 14-11-2022 · FSSAI order dated 10-10-2022
  2. 2
    Obtain the AQCS Sanitary Import Permit (document code 911DF1) before consignment dispatch and quote the e-Sanchit IRN of that Permit on the bill of entry to secure the AQCS NOC. The Sanitary Import Permit is a standalone PGA clearance, independent of the FSSAI food-safety licence.
    CBIC Circular 24/2022-Cus dated 28-11-2022, Annexure A Sl. No. 3 · CBIC Instruction 09/2023-Cus dated 07-03-2023
  3. 3
    Route the consignment only through one of the 79 designated food-import ports notified under General Note 4(D) of Schedule I of the ITC (HS) 2022. Ensure the Specimen Copy of Label is uploaded in e-Sanchit and complies with the FSSAI rectifiable-labelling regime before customs out-of-charge.
    CBIC Instruction 05/2023-Cus dated 08-02-2023 · CBIC Instruction 10/2022-Cus dated 28-06-2022 · FSSAI Letter 1828/Misc Matters/FSSAI/Imports-2021 dated 17-06-2022
A word of counsel

The most frequent error on this tariff line is treating the FSSAI Import Licence as sufficient and arriving at a non-designated port or presenting an AQCS Sanitary Import Permit IRN that has not been uploaded in e-Sanchit. A consignment of live or chilled Norway lobsters detained at a non-designated port faces deterioration during the re-routing period, with demurrage, ground rent, and potential confiscation if the perishable cargo cannot be salvaged. The FSSAI rectifiable-labelling concession applies only to label defects — it does not cure a missing AQCS NOC or an unregistered foreign manufacturer.

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Frequently asked
Does HSN 0306 15 00 require BIS certification?
No, Norway lobsters are not within the BIS Quality Control Order regime; no BIS QCO covers crustaceans. Import is governed by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, with a concurrent Animal Quarantine and Certification Services Sanitary Import Permit requirement and a 79-designated-port restriction.
Which ports are authorised for import of Norway lobsters under this tariff line?
Only the 79 designated food-import ports listed in the Annexure to CBIC Instruction 05/2023-Cus are authorised for high-risk food imports including fish and crustacean products, with effect from 1 March 2023, per General Note 4(D) of Schedule I of the ITC (HS) 2022.
Is foreign-manufacturer registration with FSSAI mandatory even for small-volume or occasional shipments?
Yes. The mandatory registration of foreign manufacturing facilities applies without volume-based exemption to all fish and crustacean product imports, per the FSSAI order dated 10 October 2022 and CBIC Instruction 30/2022-Cus; no carve-out for small-volume imports appears in the CCR for this tariff line.
Last verified against gazette notifications: 2026-05-16. Source: FSSAI / AQCS / DGFT / CBIC / Indian Customs CUSDATA.
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